Singini Dazzles, Mwaungulu tricks: Ramadan, Pasuwa share not only points but also tactical shotgun

Derby games always need moments of wizardry. Isaac Kaliyati officiously powered the blue camp ahead with his left-footed half-volley. Patrick Mwaungulu needed just three minutes after recess to glaringly maneuver the red camp level.

The second-best league fixture on the land, 24 titles shared among the two story-telling Clubs, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, only the Bullets-Silver Strikers fixture has more titles, 25. It lived up to its billing, didn’t it? Spoils were shared for the fourth consecutive time and the 15th time in 17 meetings.

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Mighty Mukuru Wanderers a top team with top performance in the first half, dwindled early in the second half with Kalisto Pasuwa making just two alterations to his team at halftime.

From superior to inferior, Wanderers saw themselves hunting for the second goal after succumbing to Mwaungulu’s well-orchestrated goal.

Ramadan outdoes Pasuwa in the first half with the midfield overload

After the morale-sapping setbacks to their draw against Bangwe All Stars, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers thought that they had grabbed the much-needed injection of positivity when Isaac Kaliyati sent the blue stand into a wild celebration.

They could have been 2-0 or 3-0 up at the break, but their profligacy haunted them at last. Development is not linear and rarely predictable. Wanderers could sense it, they have now gone four league games without a defeat to their neighbors, and the Nomads have had their swagger back when they face FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in league games. Since losing 1-0 in 2017 courtesy of Emmanuel Zoya’s strike, Wanderers had gone 7 league games undefeated against Bullets until a 2-1 defeat in 2022.

10 out of their last 12 league meetings ended in stalemate with each team bagging one win. But their first-half performance on Saturday was appetizing.

Nsazurwimo Ramadan was tasked to make Wanderers Mighty again after the team’s swagger and mojo dwindled in the last 6 years. Wanderers have won just one trophy since 2018, but it was against their cross-town rivals in the Airtel Top 8 Cup.

The Burundian gaffer opted for a 4-4-2, a formation that emerged midway through the 20th century. The whole motive of Ramadan could be to neutralize Bullets’ three-man midfield. Blessings Singini was the main man doing the dirty work.

Wisdom Mpinganjira and Isaac Kaliyati on paper were deployed as wide players with Singini and Felix Zulu playing as a double pivot.

“It’s one of those games where we struggled to contain them [Wanderers] in the first half because of their pace. We were second on the ball most of the time and we couldn’t do more in terms of attacking,” Kalisto Pasuwa admitted after the game.

Like Russian coach Viktor Maslov, Ramada developed another variation in which the two wingers dropped back alongside the two central midfielders. So originated the 4-4-2, which worked to overload opposition midfielders with traditionally fewer numbers. Kaliyati and Mpinganjira could squeeze themselves inside to add numbers in midfield thereby outnumbering Bullets’ reckless three midfielders. Blessings Singini is not only good defensively, but also offensively only that he was limited in the game. His presence at the base of midfield, powered Wanderers more.

Mighty Mukuru Wanderers’ opener was the work of the midfield with Nyekez commanding the centre before Kaliyati was released on the left who combined well with Gaddie Chirwa to beat Innocent Nyasulu with a half-volley.

Singini and Zulu who were the two central midfielders connected the back line to the forwards through their accurate range of passing, operating deep or as box-to-box runners.

Gaddie Chirwa was the dangerous man in Wanderers’ third distinct line. Ramadan will need a new striker or drilling the same Kumwembe in terms of finishing if they are to challenge for the championship this season. Chirwa outsmarted Precious Phiri on the left before finding Jacama whose effort kissed the sidenet to the agony of the supporters, he could have done better to chip the ball over the keeper in his next attempt.

Mighty Mukuru Wanderers have been suffering from Alfred Manyozo Jr’s hangover since his “forced” retirement. Zulu-Mwakanyongo’s double pivot didn’t provide what the veteran midfielder used to, but the current pivot does.

“A couple of years ago, I remember how thoroughly I used to prepare for a Blantyre derby knowing the magnitude of pride the fixture carries.

“One of the important elements during my mental preparations was how to deal with Felix Zulu who usually sat on a double pivot with Captain Manyozo.

“His energy tanks and tactical awareness to give balance to a midfield have always been his greatest assets. Fast forward to 2024 – Felix Zulu sits on a double pivot with a young Singini and brings a fire that boils the pot of the derby.

“Fans may tend to treat such performances as nothing special but trust me it may take a long time to get someone like him when he retires. He might not have harnessed the wind at the national team level but he goes down the history as one of the few locals who made nomads smile over the years,” former FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Flames defending midfielder, Chimango Kayira heaped praise on Zulu after a ridiculous performance in the Blantyre Derby.

Whether they use a double or single pivot, Nomads’ subsequent players in that No 6 role have each produced different performances, but none comprehensive enough to be an all-rounder who can help Wanderers’ build-up phase, dictate the tempo of the match, and progress the ball up the pitch in possession, while offering the team a strong presence out of possession in terms of positioning and defensive impact. Last season, Stanley Sanudi was used as the No 6 in midfield but he couldn’t deliver Manyozo’s impact

The arrival of Blessings Singini who scored 20 league goals for Ekwendeni Hammers, was meant to elevate Wanderers’ midfield, with the midfielder starting to gel in Ramadan’s double pivot in a 4-4-2 shape but an injury kept him away from Bangwe All Stars’ game.

Singini’s impressive press resistance and ability to play in tight areas will be essential to this Wanderers side in many games. However, it needs to be complemented with a player who can be physically imposing, defensively aware in terms of his positioning, and who offers the required intensity and impact without the ball, Zulu possesses that.

Stanley Sanudi received a sideways pass from Chaziya in his own half, looked up and spotted Kumwembe’s darting run into the space between the opposition’s full-back and centre back, Gome and Mapemba, his piercing pass sent the striker racing into the penalty area, with only goalkeeper Nyasulu to beat but the striker flashed wide.

The Nomads won the battle in the Midfield in the first half, they restricted Bullets to just two chances, thanks to Richard Chipuwa for disturbing Ephraim Kondowe.

Two changes, Bullets back in the game, Mwaungulu tricks Nomads

Lloyd Banega Aaron, one of the best midfielders in 2023 was pocketed by Singin and Zulu, he didn’t appear again for a restart. Lanjesi Nkhoma who scored 22 goals in all competitions last season, didn’t appear again for a restart.

Kalisto Pasuwa has been fond of making halftime changes starting from last season. He has to revert to his usual tactics. Babatunde Adepoju and Ronald Chitiyo were needed to electrify the attack and control the midfield. It was a turning point.

“As I said, we had a very good first half, but unfortunately when we came out for the second half, we didn’t play the way we wanted. They [Bullets] disturbed us with their halftime changes. They put tall strikers who were good in the air,” admitted Meke Mwase after the game.

Chitiyo has vast experience in football. His presence helped Bullets to reclaim the power in midfield. Babatunde Adepoju’s physicality and aerial prowess gave Bullets an advantage back into the game.

Patrick Mwaungulu and Chitiyo played as double eights allowing Ernest Petro to drop back and pair with Yankho Singo. In the first half, Mwaungulu held a wide position to create space infield for an attacking midfielder, Ernest Petro to run into, but he didn’t. In the second half, he moved infield, meanwhile, to create space on the outside for a full-back, Phiri to overlap.

Babatunde who was supposed to play as a left forward made himself a center-forward to pair with Ephraim Kondowe. He moved across the pitch as the attack built, pinning the opposition’s ball-side center-back. The forward dropped short to link and help create overloads in central midfield, and provide direct runs beyond the opposition. These runs are often to try and get on the end of through balls, and in the process, they pushed Wanderers’ defense back into deeper territory.

Mwaungulu’s output is much better when playing as a number 10 than number 7 or 11. He registers several assists when playing from wide but he scores goals when playing as a number 10 and he also creates. His link-up with the number 9 made him a special player.

Chitiyo released the ball to the lanky forward, Babatunde who just controlled the ball leaving Mwaungulu to strike perfectly with his left foot beating Richard Chipuwa who had kept clean sheets in three games consecutively [against FOMO, CRECK, and Bangwe.] That’s his second goal against Wanderers in two games.

Wanderers are now a changed team as admitted by Mwase. An early setback could demoralize them as they came close to getting the second but Felix Zulu’s longing ball agonizingly rattled the cross-bar.

Babatunde Adepoju has five goals against Wanderers. He would have registered his sixth goal but he was too heavy to benefit from Mwaungulu’s pass as Chipuwa judged it well to disturb him.

Wanderers will look to build from their Derby performance with Karonga United coming next while Bullets are travelling to Chitowe to face struggling Mafco FC.